Build-A-Chair
Transforming Lives of those with disabilities through Mobility & Health Initiatives.
Our Signature Project
The Mission of the Build-A-Chair Initiative is to provide individuals with disabilities mobility, which in turn means a new life outside the walls of their home. By providing a person with a locally made, custom-fit wheelchair, the project gives the individuals it supports a second chance to engage their community, go to church, see friends, and earn income. We believe that each person deserves an opportunity to live a life with dignity and self-worth.
Build-A-Chair, is supervised by local Rotarian and physiotherapist Club Rotarian Shedrack Domingo. He serves as our 'boots on the ground' managing the entire process from client selection to wheelchair design.
Shedrack is a trained physiotherapist who runs the EPT clinic in Moshi, Tanzania making him the ideal person to ensure our initiative is serving the right people.
Irene is a 16-year-old girl, who lives at Olgilai Arusha. She was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was 3 years old. She can eat with assistance, but can’t talk.
Steve is a 21 yrs old and lives at Njia Panda Moshi. He was diagnosed with sickle cell at 5 months of age. When he was 9 yrs old, he had a stroke secondary to the sickle cell disease.
Calister lost her leg due to cancer earlier this year and could not afford to purchase a wheelchair. Life without a wheelchair has been very difficult for Calister. She is a farmer.
Lucy is a 21 year old young woman who lives in Arusha, TZ. She was diagnosed with a very rare condition which led to longitudinal splitting of the spinal cord. She started experiencing weakness in the legs. Her condition continued to worsen to the extent that she was unable to walk. Lucy was a university student at IAA University in Arusha. Her greatest challenge was the difficulty in traveling from home to the university. After receiving our wheelchair, Lucy’s quality of life greatly improved. Life became easier with the wheelchair because before her friends used to carry her from the car to class. She has now graduated and become a valuable part of her community.